Slipping or stuttering in 4wd auto mode -- is this normal?

[BlaineBug]

A long long long time ago, we had to get out and lock hubs to use 4WD.

Then came along automatic hubs, but you still had to lock them for full time 4WD.

Sometimes they'd get stuck in the locked position and we'd have to drive backwards for a few feet to be able to unlock them. In bad cases, we had to jack up the wheels to release the tension to be able to unlock them.

The AWD systems (on our Explorer) are good for my wife, so she doesn't need to think about it.

Thank goodness the GM hubs are full time locked. The vacuum and electronic locking hubs from Ford and Chrysler were often problematic!

 

[Larryjb]

Actually I like the old manual hubs, but with the selectable transfer case. This way your front wheels aren't driving the drive shafts all the way to the transfer case. Less wear and tear.

Has anyone done this?

 

[BlaineBug]

Actually I like the old manual hubs, but with the selectable transfer case. This way your front wheels aren't driving the drive shafts all the way to the transfer case. Less wear and tear.

Has anyone done this?

Who knows, there may be an aftermarket manufacturer out there who makes a manual disconnect hub. But the issue would probably be the stock wheels as the center opening is very small!

 

[RobH]

When my tranny torque converter lockup clutch started going out, it was slipping and grabbing in some gears, primarily second. No codes. Did a full fluid flush. Eventually there were codes and a reman transmission. I'd really watch it closely your next miles until you exit your warranty.

And thereafter for that mater.

 

[BlaineBug]

Actually I like the old manual hubs, but with the selectable transfer case. This way your front wheels aren't driving the drive shafts all the way to the transfer case. Less wear and tear.

Has anyone done this?

A quick search revealed this, but only compatible up to 2006 according to the listing.

 

[olejkodf]

This happened with my wife's '21 Tahoe. I find it incredible that GM has an "auto" feature that actually degrades the transfer case over time. Detroit needs to invest in some quality engineers or get some help from Europe or Asia.

 

[BlaineBug]

This happened with my wife's '21 Tahoe. I find it incredible that GM has an "auto" feature that actually degrades the transfer case over time. Detroit needs to invest in some quality engineers or get some help from Europe or Asia.

In the manual it does state that the automatic 4x4 mode is not to be used in fully dry conditions, but I do realize that very few owners actually read the manual.

 

[2023Sub-urban]

This is an old forum but this exact thing started happening to me too but I have a suburban. This is not normal. As you mentioned you never felt it then one day it started doing it. Same thing, I bought the vehicle the stuttering never happened then one day out of the blue it started doing it in auto. In 2hi and 4hi smooth as can be but in Auto there is that engage/disengage stutter slipping feeling. I went and test drove a new suburban and of course the new vehicle did not have the issue. If you were a customer and you were test driving a car and felt that, that would not be acceptable. I have brought it to the dealer several times. Some software updates, front actuator changes, and a whole lot of nothing later the problem persists. I have heard that it may be good to change the transfer case fluid even if the vehicle has low miles.

 

[tagexpcom]

I can understand the surprise at 4x4 that is not smooth. I've bought a new AWD 2004 Cadillac SRX in 2004 - and enjoyed smooth, AWD all these years - I still have it and drive it. Got used to AWD all the time, all weather, all speeds, all conditions, tight low turns or highway or off-road (a bit). Our 2011 CTS AWD is similar.

2 yrs ago I bought a used 2021 Yukon Denali for mostly camping/towing 5500lb trailer. On my 1st attempt to use 4x4 in the same way I do my SRX I discovered that it made noise/was-not-smooth at low speed, very tight turns - e.g. backing a trailer into a camp spot and a multi-point turn-around on a snowy road it made 'bad sounding' noises. Posted on the board and was 'educated' that 4x4 is not the same as AWD in my Cadillac SRX. Since... 2wd is my default but have used 4x4 to good advantage when needed (snow and sand and very steep hill camp road) and it's worked smoothly.

Still not sure why SRX is so smooth and 4x4 in Yukon didn't just copy that design and I can appreciate the worrisome experience by the OP; however, I certainly don't know everything and for sure a Yukon is not an SRX - very different capabilities. Live and learn! and I have no trouble using 4x4 more deliberately vs forcing use 'all the time'.

BTW - I LOVE the Yukon

 

[2023Sub-urban]

This video goes over really well the inner workings of the transfer case with the "Auto" feature.

There are just so many possibilities there that leave room for that hesitant stuttering behavior.

 

[CheapSk8]

I think this breakdown of AWD system types is helpful in understanding the differences in behaviour:

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15102281/best-all-wheel-drive-system/

The 4WD systems in these trucks is an On-Demand system with an automatic mode. In the video above they show the pressure arm that engages the clutch pack to lock in the front. That automatically puts it in 4WD and manages the engagement of the clutch pack as slip is detected. That's different than how the AWD systems in vehicles like the SRX manage power to the wheels. It also makes sense about the extra wear on the system when running in Auto 4WD, when reading the description in that link that

these systems typically use lighter-duty hardware than full-time systems use because they only drive the second axle a small percentage of the time

 

[jaxscuby]

I have 188K on my 2016...
the shudder..slipping..like its misfiring..torque convertor..I just replaced my TC last week.
and now its shifting smooth without any slips..shudders..misfire..

but it took me 6 hours on saturday + 6 hours sunday to do the swap..with hand tools & smoke breaks..
not too much cussing..

added 2 quarts after the swap to top off transmission & 2 quarts for transfer case as well.